Singapore records its biggest daily jump in new coronavirus cases

Singapore on Thursday reported its biggest daily jump in coronavirus cases, with eight newly infected patients bringing its total to 58, the health ministry said. All of the new patients were linked to previous cases, the ministry added.

As the world saw a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases, Dr Rajesh Chawla of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said it is best to avoid travel to Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

“It is still safe to travel to a country where there haven’t been many serious cases of coronavirus. But, I think we should avoid travelling to the east mainly Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong unless it is absolutely necessary,” Dr Rajesh Chawla said while answering a question of a viewer of India Today TV on travel restrictions.

The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 1,300 people in China and infected tens of thousands more, and there are signs that infection rates are continuing to rise.

China’s central Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, reported 242 deaths and nearly 15,000 fresh cases on Wednesday, Mi Feng, a spokesperson with the National Health Commission was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Singapore’s health ministry on Thursday said it reported its biggest daily jump in coronavirus cases, with eight newly infected patients bringing its total to 58.

All of the new patients were linked to previous cases, the ministry said. Of the 58 confirmed cases reported, 15 have recovered and been discharged from hospital while seven are in critical condition in intensive care, Singapore’s health ministry said.

Meanwhile, Thailand has recorded 33 cases since January.